Farewell to Dolores Hilden

Dolores helping a nursing student

June 2012

Dolores Hilden, PhD, Chair of the SAU Department of Nursing since its inception, has announced her retirement after 12 years of leadership and program development. Her contributions to nursing education are many and include leadership in the national and international nursing arena.

In the region, Dr. Hilden has held leadership positions in the Iowa Nurses Association, and participated in the development of the Iowa articulation agreement for associate degree with baccalaureate degree programs. Her contribution to a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant was instrumental in assisting local nurses to further their education and obtain a baccalaureate degree in nursing from St. Ambrose. Dr. Hilden accepted the first class of pre-licensure students in 2000, and also offered an accelerated baccalaureate program for RNs. Under Dr. Hilden's leadership, almost 500 nurses have received the baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing from St. Ambrose University.

She also guided the development of the MSN program from its beginning in 2005. To date, four cohorts have graduated with a Master's Degree in Nursing from St. Ambrose. It is not surprising that Dr. Hilden was named as a Great Iowa Nurse in 2006.

As a means to continue her legacy to the department, the Dr. Dolores Hilden Endowed Nursing Scholarship has been established. The SAU Advancement office is accepting donations for this scholarship that will be awarded to worthy nursing students, thus ensuring Dr. Hilden's support for nursing education into the future. Also, the first annual Dolores Hilden Visionary Award for RN to BSN students was presented to Karoline Crowder at the May Nursing Pinning Ceremony. Dr. Hilden's contributions to the growth of the department will long be remembered!

Brenda Shostrum, PhD, formerly Director of Nursing at Coe College, will succeed Dr. Hilden this summer; we will introduce her in our next newsletter.